GEOGRAPHY
A 1968
referendum approved the constitution, making Maldives a republic
with executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government.
The constitution was amended in 1970, 1972, and 1975 and is again
under revision.
Ibrahim
Nasir, Prime Minister under the pre-1968 sultanate, became President
and held office from 1968 to 1978. He was succeeded by Maumoon
Abdul Gayoom, who was elected President in 1978 and reelected
in 1983, 1988, 1993, 1998, and again in October 2003. The president
heads the executive branch and appoints the cabinet. Nominated
to a 5-year term by a secret ballot of the Majlis (Parliament),
the president must be confirmed by a national referendum.
The unicameral Majlis is composed of 50 members serving 5-year terms. Two members from each atoll and Male' are elected directly by universal suffrage. Eight are appointed by the president. A special Majlis session began meeting in mid-2004 to review constitutional reform issues. Regularly scheduled Majlis elections took place in January 2005.
The Maldivian
legal system--derived mainly from traditional Islamic law--is
administered by secular officials, a chief justice, and lesser
judges on each of the 19 atolls, who are appointed by the president
and function under the Ministry of Justice. There also is an attorney
general. Each inhabited island within an atoll has a chief who
is responsible for law and order. Every atoll chief, appointed
by the president, functions as a district officer in the British
South Asian tradition.
On November 8, 1988, Sri Lankan Tamil mercenaries tried to overthrow the Maldivian Government. At President Gayoom's request, the Indian military suppressed the coup attempt within 24 hours. In September 2003, following the death of an inmate, a brief prison riot broke out on an island near the capital Male'. Three other inmates were killed during the incident. In response to the killings of the inmates, brief rioting took place on the streets of Male'. The government often prevents opposition rallies from taking place. Throughout 2006, the opposition faced restrictions on freedom of assembly, and the government continued to arrest opposition activists. The government also keeps a tight rein on expressions of Islamic extremism. The government is investigating links between religious extremists and a September 2007 bombing in a Male' park that injured several tourists.
President Gayoom's commitment to introduce political reforms in June 2004 was widely welcomed. A human rights commission was established, and a special Majlis, or parliament, was convened to consider changes in the constitution, including the legalization of political parties. In August 2004, however, a demonstration in the capital turned violent and the government declared an emergency and arrested a large number said to be connected to the protest. Some of those arrested were prominent in the reform movement, including several members of the special Majlis. Most were released a few months later.
The Maldives were badly hit by the Asian tsunami of December 26, 2004, which killed 82 and caused substantial damage to Maldives tourism, housing, and fishing infrastructure. The U.S. provided $1.6 million in immediate relief assistance. Despite the disaster, the Government of the Maldives held parliamentary elections, originally scheduled for December 31, on January 22, 2005. Reform candidates performed strongly. Following the poll, President Gayoom announced plans to establish multiparty democracy within a year.
In June 2005, the members of the People's Majlis unanimously voted to legally recognize political parties. In order of registration the first parties were the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party, the government's Dhivehi Raiyyethunge Party, the Adhaalath (Justice) Party, and the Islamic Democratic Party. More recently, a number of other parties have formed, including the Social Liberal Party, the Maldivian National Congress, the Maldives Social Democratic Party, and the Republican Party. Some of these appear to have minimal public backing. Another political formation is the New Maldives group, but it has not registered as a party. Although no elections have been held since the party system was implemented, members of parliament have declared their political affiliations.
In March 2006, the government introduced a "Roadmap for Reform" and subsequently introduced several bills in parliament. In August 2007, voters decided via referendum that the Maldives' new constitution should provide for a presidential system of government (vice parliamentary). Although the special Majlis missed the original November 2007 deadline for completing the new constitution, a final version was completed in May 2008 and ratified by President Gayoom on August 7, 2008. According to the new constitution, a presidential election must be held before October 10, 2008.
Principal
Government Officials
President--Maumoon Abdul Gayoom
Minister of Defense and National Security--Ismail Shafeeu
Minister of Economic Development and Trade--Mohamed Jaleel
Minister of Finance and Treasury--Abdulla Jihad
Minister of Home Affairs--Abdullah Kamal Deen
Minister of Foreign Affairs--Abdullah Shahid
Ambassador to the United States--Mohamed Hussain Maniku
Ambassador to the United Nations--Ahmed Khaleel
Type: Republic.
Independence: July 26, 1965 (formerly a British protectorate).
Constitution: August 7, 2008.
Branches: Executive--president, cabinet. Legislative--unicameral Majlis (parliament). Judicial--Supreme Court, High Court, Civil Court, Criminal Court, Family and Juvenile Court, and 204 general courts.
Administrative subdivisions: 19 atolls and capital city.
Political parties: Adhaalath Party, Dhivehi Raiyyethunge Party, Islamic Democratic Party, Maldivian Democratic Party, Social Liberal Party, Maldives National Congress, Maldives Social Democratic Party, Republican Party, others in formation.
Suffrage: Universal at age 18.
